With Appeal Before State Supreme Court, Coal Co. Exec Met In Monte Carlo With WV Justice - NYT

[hatrack]

A justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court and a powerful coal-company executive met in Monte Carlo in the summer of 2006, sharing several meals even as the executive’s companies were appealing a $50 million jury verdict against them to the court.

A little more than a year later, the justice, Elliott E. Maynard, voted with the majority in a 3-to-2 decision in favor of the coal companies. Justice Maynard, who is now West Virginia’s chief justice, and Don L. Blankenship, the chief executive of Massey Energy, were “vacationing together,” according to a motion seeking Justice Maynard’s disqualification, which was filed on Monday.

A spokesman for Massey Energy disputed that characterization. “Both Blankenship and Justice Maynard were separately vacationing in the Monte Carlo area,” said the spokesman, Jeff Gillenwater. “They were not vacationing together. They did meet occasionally for meals — lunches and dinners.” The motion included photographs showing the men together. The time stamps on the photographs, apparently taken by someone who had joined the men during their time together, indicated that they met on July 3, 4 and 5, 2006.

Asked whether it was a coincidence that the two men found themselves in Monte Carlo at the same time, Mr. Gillenwater said, “That is a coincidence, I think, and it’s my understanding they were not staying in the same location.” Justice Maynard stayed in Nice, France, Mr. Gillenwater said, and Mr. Blankenship in nearby Monte Carlo. The motion asked Chief Justice Maynard to disqualify himself from the case and to withdraw his vote in favor of the coal companies. The state’s canons of judicial ethics say that judges must disqualify themselves when their “impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” They add that judges should disclose any information they believe the parties or their lawyers “might consider relevant to the question of their disqualification.”

EDIT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/us/15court.html?_r=1&oref=slogin



Don't they just look so cute together?

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

1. If I don't stop reading this forum my head will explode

It's shit like this that gives me no hope for our nation.....

[pscot]

2. Impeach the son-of-a-bitch

n/t

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. Typical open corruption now commonplace in our 1st class "justice" system!

That is so awesome!

:sarcasm:

[NNadir]

4. Oh geeze...